Method and apparatus for folding paper and the like



H1 23, 194%- F. E. RICKARD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FOLDING PAPER AND THE LIKE Filed NOV. 29, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 23, 1940. F. EJRICKARD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FOLDING PAPER AND THE LIKE w WW 1 5 1 fl w W m 6 m I .W 2 H k 4 m 5 m 1. n P 1 April 23, 194(). RlCKARD 2,198,46G

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FOLDING PAPER AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 29, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 E! 49 INVENTOR.

I ATTORNEYs.

Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOT) AND APPARATUS FOR FOLDING PAPER AND THE LIKE 7 Claim.

This invention relates to the folding by machinery of paper and the like and includes a novel method of folding, and apparatus for carrying said method into practice.

In the folding of circulars, Christmas cards and any form of advertisement or printed or illustrated information on paper or other similar material, it is of utmost importance that the folding of the sheet be accomplished in an accurate, exact and slghtly manner. In the folding of such material, as heretofore practised, it has been impossible to secure a very high degree of excellence because of the obstinance ofthe paper against bending in the right amount and at the right place at the initial stage of the fold, because of the paper being dry and more or less stiff. Also as heretofore practised the forming of folds in sheets of paper or the like has been unsatisfactory in a marked degree where the fold occurred at a place having a solid color or combination of colors at the fold, for the reason that the bending of the paper or the like at the fold would cause the paper to crack on the outer edge of the fold and thus show some white through what should be a solid color or combination of colors. In other words, the outer edge of the fold would have an irregular, cracked and broken appearance which would greatlyinterfere with the uniformity of the color at the fold. This is especially true in the folding of Christmas cards but also occurs in many other kinds of folds.

The above disadvantages and many others not mentioned, have occurred because of the paper being dry at the place of the fold. Also because of the paper being dry it was heretofore necessary to position the scoring rolls so close together in order to make the fold that the paper would be unduly out.

In the present invention I have overcome the disadvantages and defects above mentioned and others not referred to, by applying to the paper as it passes through the folding machine and prior to its passing into the folding unit, a straight line of liquid (such as water alone or a mixture of water and any other liquid desired, or liquid other than water that may be most desirable for the particular requirement) of the desired width and volume, so as to moisten the paper at the line of the fold and thus cause the paper to seek a straight clean fold along the wetted line rather than have to be forced into the desired fold and be uneven and the paper perhaps cracked at the fold. The wetting of the paper at the place of the fold eliminates all possibility of cracking of the paper at the fold and insures that the fold will be straight and occur on that particular line. The above can be demonstrated by drawing a straight line of water across a sheet of paper with a ruling pen or the like, and then start to bend the paper at the region of said line. As the bending is started the paper will imme-' diately form a straight ridge along the wetted line and of itself positively and unerringly seek a fold along said straight wetted line.

In the present invention I have made use of the above principle by providing means for applying the wetted line, or lines, referred to, continuously to the sheets to be folded in a straight line or lines as the sheets pass over the feed table.

Among the objects of my invention is to overcome the disadvantages and accomplish the advantages and new results referred to above.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities in-' herent in my invention will later more fully appear.

My invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while I haveshown therein preferred embodiments, I wish it understood that the same are susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a feed table showing applied thereto apparatus forapplying a straight wetted line to the upper surface of the sheet to be folded as it passes over the feed table.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of four positions of a sheet of paper during the wetting and folding operation.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a sheet of paper in, which the first fold has been made, and showing the natural tendency of the paper to fold along the wetted line for the second fold.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the first fold, which is generally with the grain of the paper, and before the same has been completed.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the first fold and with the second fold partially completed, the latter generally being across the grain of the paper.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a sheet of paper which has been folded twice.

Fig. '7 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a reservoir and apparatus for applying the wetted line to the paper, and part of the supporting means for the same.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section through a portion'of the liquid reservoir, and the apparatus for applying the wetted line to the paper, this view being on a larger scale than Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of Fig. 7, showing a portion of the supporting crossbar, and its mounting at one end.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic plan view of a foldgo ing machine with my apparatus for applying a wetted line applied thereto also diagrammatically.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a modified form of apparatus for applying a wetted line to a sheet of paper, also showing a portion of the supporting means therefor.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical section through a portion of the reservoir, wick and ball of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section through a portion of one of the feed tables.

Referring in detail to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, my invention includes the the mounting above the feeding rolls of a device for applying a wet straight line to the upper surface of the sheet of paper as it passes over the feed rolls. The wet line applicator is shown at I and comprises a liquid reservoir 2 which may be of any desired type and which for convenience in the present case is a sight-feed oil cup, in the top reservoir of which is contained the water or a mixture of water and alcohol, or any other liquid or mixture of liquids suitable for the desired purpose. Extending downwardly from the reservoir 2 (see Figs. '7 and 8) is a tubular element 3 having on each side a sight opening 4, there being mounted within the passageway in element 3 a transparent glass tubing 5 to enable an observer to see the drops of water or other liquid falling therethrough. If desired, the reservoir 2 may have transparent glass walls 6 to show at a glance the amount of liquid in the reservoir.

The lower end portion of the tubular element 3 is screw-threaded at 'I to fit into corresponding threads in the stationary supporting member 8 which is formed integrally, or otherwise, as desired, with the bracket 8' formed with a recess 9 to fit over the supporting bar I9 and be clamped and held thereon by a plate II detachably secured to the bracket by any desired means, such as screws or the like I2, a clamping screw I3 being threaded through plate I I to impinge, when tightened, against bar I0 to hold the applicator I against movement with relation to the supporting bar during use. The supporting bar In is connected at its ends to supporting posts I4 and I5, which are in turn securely and stationarily mounted on the side edges of the feed table frame so that the supporting bar ID will extend across the top of said table.

By loosening the clamping screw I3, the bracket 8' and applicator I carried thereby may be adjusted along the bar to any desired position and the screw tightened so that the wetted line may be applied wherever desired on the sheet of paper to be folded, as will be clearly understood from Figs. 1, '7 and 9. The bar Ill may be secured to the posts I4 and I5 by any desired means, such as screws, bolts or the like I6, and the posts may be secured to the feed table by any desired means such as screws, bolts or the like II. The feed rolls I8, as is common in paper folding machines, are positioned at such an angle with relation to the side bars I9 and 20 that the sheet of paper to be folded as it passes over rolls I8 is caused to move laterally into contact with the inner face of side bar I9, which acts as a straight edge to properly line up the sheet of paper for the folding operation to follow. Also as is common in folding machines, the side bar I9 is formed at its upper edge with an inwardly extending flange 20 the under-surface of which is spaced a slight distance above the feed rolls I8,

flange 29 being provided with balls 2i of glass or other suitable material to further insure that the edge of the paper is moved laterally into contact with the inner face of guide bar I9. This is dueto the fact that the lower contact point of balls 2I rides upon the sheet 22 of paper to be folded in vertical alignment with the vertical axis of the feed roll I8 immediately therebelow, see Fig. 13.

These feed rolls being positioned at an angle cause the direction of rotation of balls 2I to be at an angle with relation to the longitudinal axis of the machine and thus further assist in forcing the sheet of paper sidewise against side bar group of bristles or the like 25, which extend at the lower end of tube 23 to form the brush 26, which brush is in constant contact with the wetting ball 21, Tube 23 is provided at one side with a longitudinal slot 24' to give springiness to tube 23 to facilitate renewing and removing the brush bristles. Other bristle holding means may be used as desired. Projecting upwardly through the center of the reservoir 2 is a tubular stem 28 within which is mounted for vertical movement the stem 29 of the needle valve 30, which needle valve coacts with the valve seat 3I to control passage of water or other liquid from the interior of the liquid reservoir through opening 32. Liquid passes from the reservoir to opening 32 through the passageway 33 and the interior of tubular stem 28. Also provided in the bottom of the stem 28 is an opening 34 within which is mounted an upstanding vent tube 35, the open upper end of which is adjacent the top of the interior of the reservoir to prevent the same from becoming air bound. The stem 29 of the needle valve is pivotally connected at its upper end to a lever 36, which may be moved from vertical to horizontal or horizontal to vertical position to open or close the needle valve 30 as desired. Threadedly mounted on the upper end portion of stem 29 and rotatably associated with the top of the reservoir is a roughened sleeve 31, which may be rotated by the fingers of the operator to adjust the amount of opening of the needle valve 39 as desired. This adjusting sleeve 31 is held in its adjusted position by the spring finger 39.

The wetting ball 21 is rotatably mounted in the space 39 and is held against dropping downof the thin metallic shoe 49, the edges holding the ball from dropping out of space 39 being those formed by the opening 4|. Opening 4| is of a size to prevent ball 27 from dropping out of space 39 but large enough to permit ball 21 to ride upon the upper surface of the sheet of paper 22 passing through the machine. The vertical diameter of ball 21 should fall in alignment with the vertical diameter of the feed roll I8 immediately therebelow. so that ball 21 will be directly above the topmost point of the feed roll so that the sheet of paper to be folded will pass between the top of the feed roll I8 and the bottom of the wetting ball 21 immediately thereabove. This means that the line of contact of ball 21 with the sheet of paper as the latter passes underneath the ball will be a straight line.

Reservoir 2 may be provided with a filling opening which is closed by a removable stopper or closure 43. While it is not indispensable it is helpful to so position the supporting bar 10 that it will be parallel with the longitudinal axis of the feed rollers [8 so that as the applicator l is moved therealong for adjustment purposes the vertical diameter of ball 21 will always remain in alignment with the vertical diameter of the feed roll I8 directly therebelow. If instead of posi-' tioning the supporting bar ID at an angle as just described, it is positioned to extend straight across the feed table, such adjustment may be effected by loosening the clamping screw l3 to move the applicator along the supporting bar and loosening screws I! to adjust the ball 21 to a position directly above the feed roll at a point where it is to operate, and then tightening the screws referred to. The trailing end of the thin metallic shoe 40 is curved upwardly at 44 to insure that the paper passes smoothly beneath this shoe, which is secured to the lower end of the applicator I by means of screws or the like 45.

The machine, as is common in paper folding machines, is provided with a pair of scoring rolls in alignment with the folding line, the upper one of such rolls being shown at 46 in Fig. 2. As is understood, these rolls operate in pairs, one of them being provided with a scoring circumferential ridge and the other with a circumferential groove, there being a pair of these scoring rolls in alignment with each folding line and preferably just prior to the passing of the paper into the folding unit of the machine.

In Fig. 10 I have shown diagrammatically a folding machine to which my invention is applied, this machine comprising the table 41 from which the sheets to be folded are fed one at a time to the feed table 48, where each sheet is carried by the feed rolls I8 in the direction of the arrow, and at the beginning of its movement over rolls I8 is moved laterally so that the edge of each sheet is in contact with the inner face of the side bar I9. As each sheet progresses along this feed table it moves under shoe 40 and passes between ball 21 and the feed roll directly thereunder. As the paper passes under ball 21 it has a straight wet line applied thereto by reason of water passing from reservoir 2 downwardly through opening 32 under control of needle valve 30, and through opening 24 to fibers 25 and through the spaces between these fibers downwardly to the brush 26, which brush constantly wets ball 21.

The outer surface of ball 21 being thus kept constantly wet forms a straight wetted line on the sheet of paper to be folded at the line of contact between ball 21 and the upper surface of the sheet of paper. This wetted line will, as is understood, extend longitudinally of the sheet of paper from one end to the other. While in Fig. 1, I have shown only one of these wetting applicators and in Fig. 10 two thereof, it is to be understood that any number of these weeting applicators I may be applied to the machine as desired, so that any required number of straight wetted lines may be applied to the upper surface of the sheet of paper as it passes under the applicator or applicators. After passing thereunder the sheet of paper is further carried in the direction of the arrow to the first folding unit 49 of a well known type, in which the forward edge 50 of the sheet of paper strikes stops 5| and the sheet of paper is given its first fold along the line 52 shown in Fig. 2.

Referring again to Fig. 10, the sheet of paper after receiving its first fold is deposited upon the second feeding table 53 and carried in the direction of the arrow to the second folding unit 54, where it passes to the stops 55, after which the double sheet is given a second fold along the line 56 (see Fig. 2). This means that the sheet of paper illustrated in the drawings is first folded along the line 52, which can be accomplished without providing a wetted line because of this fold being easier by reason of its being with the grain of the paper. After the first fold the sheet is passed, as stated above, to the second folder where it is folded in double thickness along the line 56,which is the wetted line 22',which line generally extends crosswise of the grain of the paper. The sheet is thus folded into the form shown in Fig. 6, the first fold 52, as stated, being with the grain of the paper as seen in Fig. 4, and the second fold coinciding with the wetted line 22' and being generally across the grain of the paper as seen in Fig. 5.

As will be understood from the above, the provision of a straight wetted line to act as the fold line will take the stiffness out of the paper along said wetted line, and when the same reaches the folding unit it will of itself seek a fold along that line because of the greater limpness of the paper along said straight wetted line, thus in a remarkable degree facilitating the making of the fold in a straight line without any' breaking of the paper at the fold, thus permitting a much neater and accurate fold as well as preserving the uniformity of any ink or coloring matter that may extend across the fold.

As stated earlier herein, any number of the applicators I may be used, so positioned as to be in conformity with the number of folds to be made in the paper, such folds along the wetted line or lines occurring in a second, third or other further folder in accordance with the number of folds to be made.

In Figs. 11 and 12 is shown a modified form of applicator comprising a reservoir 51 containing water or other liquid 58, there being provided a wick or the like 59 which at its inner end 6|] extends down to the bottom of the reservoir and to any further extent desired, and the outer end 6| of which is in contact with the ball 62, which ball is positioned within the seat member 63 provided in its bottom with the opening 64, said opening being of a size to permit the ball 62 to extend a restricted distance therebeyond to prevent the falling of the ball downwardly through theseat member but yet per-' mit it to extend a suflicient distance therethrough to appropriately contact the upper surface of the paper as it is being passed beneath the applicator.

The size and properties of the wick 6| will be so chosen as to so conduct water from the resersupporting bar ill or otherwise, as desired. The

mounting of the reservoir 51 on the supporting bar Ill may be effected in any desired manner such as shown in Fig. 11, to be vertically adjustable through the medium of the slide joint 55 and clamping screw 66, and longitudinally adjustable along the supporting bar by reason of the clamping screw 61.

Should the surface of the paper to be folded be glossed or otherwise so treated as to make it difficult for water to sufficiently penetrate it to give the folding efiect referred to above, alcohol or other desirable liquid may be mixed with the water to penetrate such glossed or otherwise treated surface by the time the sheet reaches the foldirm unit. Also, as will be understood, the ends of supporting bar It may be attached to the side bars of the feed table in any desired manner as, for example, as shown in connection with supporting bar ill, or otherwise as desired, and parallel with the longitudinal axis of the feed rolls or not as may be preferred.

It is also to be noted that the application of the wetted straight line to the sheet to be folded lessens the depth to be scored by the scoring rollers 46 if such scoring rollers are to be used, this lessening in depth of the scoring permitting the scoring rollers to be positioned farther apart and thus' eliminating any possible danger of the scoring roller cutting into the paper an excess amount. The scoring rollers may, if desired, be omitted or not, as desired, in connection with the straight wetted line.

In Fig. 2 the sequence of the folds is shown similar to those in Fig. 10 except to omit any of the parts of the folding machine. It is to be understood, of course, that in each of Figs. 2 and 10 the showing is only diagrammatic.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus for applying a line of liquid to a sheet of paper to be folded, a liquid supply, a liquid applying member, and means for feeding liquid from the liquid supply to the applying member, said applyingmember comprising a ball adapted to have rolling contact in all directions with the surface of the sheet and apply liquid from the surface of the ball to the sheet, and a seat member for said ball for maintaining the ball in a steady general position, said seat member having an opening of a size to enable the ball to roll in any direction.

2. In apparatus for facilitating the folding of a sheet of paper and the like, an applying member adapted to contact the sheet of paper and the like as the sheet passes thereby, means for supplying water or similar liquid to the applying member in the desired amount, said applying member comprising a spherical ball having universal roiling contact with the sheet, and a seat member having an opening within which said ball is held for rotation in any direction.

3. Apparatus for preparing a sheet of paper and the like for folding, comprising a liquid reservoir, means for moving said sheet longitudinally with relation to said reservoir, an applying member positioned for contact with the sheet as it passes thereby, connections from the applying member to the reservoir for conducting liquid from the latter to the former, means for controlling the amount of liquid passing through said connections, said applying member comprising a ball having rolling contact in all directions with the sheet to wet the surface of the sheet in a line to cause the sheet to fold easier along said line, and a seat member having an opening within which said ball is maintained for rotation in any direction.

4. In apparatus for applying a line of liquid to a sheet of paper to be folded as said sheet passes over angular guide rolls to move the sheet laterally in an angular direction to bring it into contact with a guide member and then move it forwardly in a straight line in contact with said guide member, a liquid supply, a liquid applying member, and means for feeding liquid from the liquid supply to the applying member, said applying member comprising a ball supported to have universal rolling contact with the surface of the sheet and apply liquid thereto, said ball rolling in an angular plane of rotation during the angular movement of the paper, and in a plane of rotation parallel to the guide while the edge of the paper is in contact with the guide and a seat member having an opening within which said ball is supported for said universal rolling movement.

5. In paper folding apparatus a plurality of angularly inclined guide rollers, a guide member against which a sheet of paper is adapted to be moved first angularly until it contacts the guide member and then longitudinally therealong, a supporting member, a ball rotatably carried by said supporting member and adapted to have rolling contact with said sheet of paper, the ball being mounted in the supporting member for rolling movement in all directions whereby said ball will rotate in an angular plane of rotation when the sheet of paper is moving angularly laterally toward the guide member, and then rotate in a plane of rotation parallel to the guide member after the sheet strikes the guide member, means for applying liquid to the surface of said ball for forming a line of liquid on the sheet of paper as it passes by the ball in contact therewith, said supporting member having an opening extending through its bottom face of a size to permit the ball to project downwardly so as to be supported by the sheet of paper.

6. In folding apparatus, means for moving a sheet of paper laterally in an angular direction until it strikes a guide member, after which the sheet moves in a straight line, means for forming a wet line on said sheet along a line to be folded, said last mentioned means comprising a ball mounted for rotation in all directions, means for applying liquid to the surface of said ball, means for forming a first fold transversely to said wet line means to form a second fold at said wet line, and a seat member having an opening within which said ball is mounted for universal rotation.

7. In folding apparatus, means for moving a sheet of paper in a straight line, means for applying a thin line of water or the like to said sheet to wet the same along a fold line, said last mentioned means comprising a universally rotatable ball, means for applying water or the like to the surface of said ball, means for forming a first fold of said sheet transverse to said wet line, the portions of the wet line in the respective parts of the folded sheet being in registry with each other, means for forming a second fold along said registering portions of the wet line, and a seat member having an opening within which said ball is mounted for universal rotation.

FAY E. RICKARD. 

